I’m an absolute SUCKER for a cheesy Christmas special, sue me!!! Christmas, billionaire boyfriend, fake dating, what more can you ask for?

“My heart goes up in flames. I feel like confetti and champagne.”

I loved this book and thought it was so well done for a holiday novella, including how these characters were set up in the prior book. I hope to see them later on in the series!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story from first to last page.A delightful read great characters wonderful story perfect vacation reading.So happy this is a series.#NetGalley #atria

The moment I saw this book featured a fake dating scenario with a hot billionaire boss, a festive holiday competition, and a mission to make the ex jealous, I was all in. It’s packed with everything I love about holiday rom-coms: witty banter, steamy tension, cozy vibes, and just the right amount of chaos. While there were a few moments where the pacing slowed, the overall story was so fun and heartwarming that I found myself smiling more often than not.

The chemistry between Wilder and Fable is electric. Their banter is sharp, their connection magnetic, and once they finally give in to all that simmering tension... let's just say it delivers. Wilder, in particular, stole the show. He's a billionaire, sure-but also a swoony single dad who's thoughtful, attentive, and completely smitten with Fable. His love language? Acts of service and next-level gift giving. Oh, and he's also obsessed with food, which made him feel all the more real (and ridiculously charming).

Fable, too, is a standout heroine. Independent, witty, and still healing from a betrayal, she steps into this fake relationship with both reluctance and courage. Watching her find her footing again-not just in love, but in life-was so satisfying. And her relationship with Wilder's daughter Mac? Heart-melting. Mac is written with such care-mature, sweet, and a key part of the story, not just an afterthought.

One of the most refreshing aspects of the story was the portrayal of Wilder's ex-wife. Instead of leaning into unnecessary drama, Blakely offers a co-parenting relationship built on mutual respect, which felt both realistic and incredibly touching.

Though the book runs a bit long, it's filled with laugh-out-loud moments, spicy scenes, and enough holiday cheer to make even the Grinch smile. The Christmas competition-complete with popcorn ball contests, glitter explosions, and awkward mistletoe moments-adds just the right amount of cozy chaos to the backdrop.

This story is like reading a Hallmark movie with an R-rated twist: warm, cheeky, and full of heart.

Read this if you love:
* Fake dating
* Billionaire romance
* Single dad heroes
* Office romance
* Only-one-bed moments
* Cozy holiday vibes with a side of spice

My Favorite Holidate is festive, flirty, and full of swoon. It's the perfect pick if you're craving holiday magic with a steamy, heartwarming twist. Just be prepared-this sleigh ride is a bit longer than expected, but the destination is totally worth it.

Oh my goodness- My Favorite Holiday certainly jingles all the bells! This book is SO such a blast.. The perfect mix of festive fun, salacious spice, and charmingly swoony romance. From the dramatic (and heartbreaking/shocking) beginning to the tension-filled, longing driven fake dating scenario, I fell wildly in love with these two characters.. And with so much family shenanigans, the most picturesque setting, yummy sexual tension, AND the most charming secondary cast, this one is just the perfect holiday read. Not to mention, Blakely showers us with the most festive and memorable and delightfully ho-ho-hilarious holiday activities that gave me all the festive feelings and are the perfect backdrop for this holiday romance. This one will certainly go down as one of my favorite holiday reads that I'll revisit each her- the perfect blend of humor, heartfelt connection, and wonderfully paced romance. Lauren Blakely at her best!


What to expect:
-workplace (boss-employee)
-fake dating/fake relationship
-cheating ex /wedding party forced proximity
-billionaire
-single dad
-only one bed
-Christmas contest/activities
-idyllic wintery small town
-wonderful secondary cast
-revenge dating
-he falls first/pining
-epic sexual tension

This was another amazing book!

I couldn’t get enough of Wilder and Fable! They were both amazing characters who had such amazing chemistry together! I was hooked the entire time and couldn’t wait to see their happy ending.

This is definitely a must-read book for Holiday Romance fans!

Thank you Atria Books and Lauren Blakely, for a free copy of this book!

This is a fun, fast, engaging holiday read. I don't typically read holiday books in May, but I needed something that I knew would hit all of my reading needs. It's been a rough reading year.

Fun to find out this is a series, I will for sure check out the others. If you've read any Lauren Blakely, this will not disappoint.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was the absolute CUTEST holiday, fake dating romance! Lauren always brings me the best giggles + spice so I knew I would adore this book! 📖

Wilder + Fable work together and end up fake dating during the holiday season, each for different reasons. Wilder is a closed off, single dad, billionaire while Fable is an artsy and cute employee. They end up finding more than a fake dating romance and holiday cheer but you’ll have to read to find out what happens next! 💓

Wilder was absolutely PRECIOUS. Someone please find me a billionaire like him ASAP! The way he cared for Fable + made her feel so special and wanted was swoon-worthy! He truly cared for everyone in his life and I loved watching him to come to realize his feelings for Fable.

Fable was the cutest artsy + goofy personality. Her art designs were adorable and I loved how she personalized gifts for Wilder throughout the book. She was so truly original as a character, in my opinion! 🎨

This book beautifully wraps up themes of trust, growth, and self-love, coming together like the perfect Christmas gift tied with a bow. 🎁

So funny! I started smiling at the first chapter...love her energy and optimism. She keeps smiling as her love life falls apart. Okay he is a loser. But she needs a plus one for her sister's wedding. Now who would think of asking her boss? She would. What a humorous story of fake love. I set everything aside so I could read this one. It was well worth my time. Loved it!

This novel is filled with all of the Christmas vibes, along with a romance that contains a lot of spice! This book was fantastic! It had a whimsical tone while reading it and included some shocking moments! I found this to be humorous, entertaining, exciting, fun and magical! Along with the steamy romance, this book also comes with a billionaire boss that ends up fake dating. This book made me feel lighthearted, hopeful, relaxed and adventurous. Furthermore, it gave me all the wintery, cozy vibes. It is a medium paced read with lovable characters. The characters do change and grow throughout the story. The very first chapter captured my attention!

This came with a clear thesis and was both plot and character driven. It was really giving me all the Hallmark vibes, but with spice! Some of the tropes explored in this book is forced proximity, a Christmas romance and competition, a single Dad, and a boss and employee romance! This also comes with banter between the two main characters and a dual point of view! To me, this book came with everything a great romance should come with! The author adding the Christmas theme to this story just made it an amazing and magical read!

“My Favorite Holidate” by Lauren Blakely is a holiday romance novel that centers around a woman named Fable Calloway and a guy named Wilder Blaine. Wilder happens to be Fable’s billionaire boss! They end up teaming up for fake dating, because Fable wants her ex cheating boyfriend to get jealous. They go to holiday parties together and things between them start becoming real. Overall, I give this a 5 out of 5 stars rating!

I think anyone who loves a great cozy Christmas Hallmark movie, along with some spice would absolutely love this book! Content warnings include explicit sexual content, cursing, addiction, a toxic relationship and abandonment.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Lauren Blakely and Atria Books for this amazing reader’s new copy in exchange for my honest review! The new cover of this book is beautiful!

This book’s new copy is expected to be available on October 7, 2025!

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for this ARC.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The story felt a bit too predictable, with the tropes laid out so clearly that there wasn’t much left to discover as a reader. I usually love settling into a romance, but this time I was missing that spark of surprise or depth that makes the journey feel fresh.

This was exactly the kind of feel-good holiday romance I needed. From the flirty banter to the heartwarming moments, everything about this book made me smile. The fake dating setup was adorable, and the chemistry between the leads was off the charts—in a fun, slow-burn kind of way that kept me hooked the whole time.

Lauren Blakely does such a great job balancing humor and heart. I found myself genuinely laughing at some parts and then swooning the next. Plus, the holiday setting added the perfect cozy vibes—it made me want to throw on fuzzy socks, grab a candy cane, and live inside the story.

It’s light, sweet, a little steamy, and just the right amount of festive. Honestly, if you're looking for a holiday romance that leaves you feeling warm and happy, this one is a win.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy*

This book was pure holiday joy! My Favorite Holidate had everything I wanted in a festive rom-com—witty banter, warm fuzzy feelings, and just the right touch of spice.

The chemistry between the main characters was so fun to read. You can really feel the history and friendship between them, which made their romantic tension even better. It’s got that perfect fake-dating-but-we’re-so-obviously-into-each-other vibe that never gets old when it’s done right—and Lauren Blakely nailed it.

There were so many sweet, funny moments that made me smile, and it had the kind of heartwarming holiday setting that makes you want to curl up with hot chocolate and fairy lights. Honestly, it felt like a Hallmark movie and a rom-com podcast had a book baby, and I mean that in the best way.

If you’re in the mood for something flirty, festive, and full of charm, definitely give this one a go. It’s the kind of book that puts you in a good mood.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

What do you do when you have a meddling grandma or an ex who cheated on you and there's a wedding coming up? Hello, fake dating. Fable and Wilder decide that in order to get through a wedding and a holiday contest, they should team up, but what happens when it stops pretending? Really, these two are pretty obsessed with eachThanks to Lauren, Atria, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review. other from the beginning, and I wasn't mad at it. Lots of holiday-themed spice and shenanigans. The third act conflict wasn't my favorite, but it is resolved quickly. Shout out to Wilder's daughter not being the conflict! My Favorite Holidate is a fun and easy winter read!

Thanks to Lauren, Atria, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

I read this book when it was initially published. I’m a big fan of Wilder the MMC and of the Author. I liked the updates and would recommend.

Thank you to netgalley and Atria books for allowing me to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing Christmas read! This will be the binge worthy addictive book this holiday season. I am obsessed with Lauren Blakely’s writing and her ability to write all these books and make so many amazing character connections throughout her multiple different series. This book has an amazing line up of tropes and I love me a good billionaire romance. I loved the banter between the two characters and all the amazing holiday puns throughout. This book definitely put me in the holiday spirit and I was obsessed with the connections to her other works.

This is my second read of this spicy Holiday Romance and I still love it! Wilder and Fable are so sweet together and honestly this is one of my favorite Christmas books it’s perfect to get you I. The spirit and I love the new cover! The added epilogue was so cute and a nice added touch that I enjoyed so very much! If you enjoy a good fake dating turned real, fun Christmas games and a Christmas Eve wedding then this is the book for you!

I truly loved this book, Wilder and Fable were two great characters that had chemistry right off the bat. Even though this starts out fake it soon becomes a lot more. I loved the humor and the banter between these two, and Wilder's daughter was amazing as well. I laughed just about the entire time I was reading. I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to reading more from Lauren.

3.5 stars. I did not realize this was a fake dating trope when I started it. I rarely go for fake dating, but this was executed well enough. There was minimal lying to loved ones involved which I always appreciate. Wilder and Fable had a believable opposites attract thing going on that was fun. MVP character was clearly Mac.

I requested this on netgalley not realizing that it was an indie version now being tradtionally published. Very exciting!

Thank you to netgalley and Atria books for a complimentary copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for a spicy fake dating billionaire holiday romance then look no further than My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely.

Fable and Wilder agree to be each other’s plus ones to the upcoming wedding of Fable’s sister and Wilder’s best friend because it kills two birds with one stone. It gets Wilder’s aunt off his back with her constantly trying to set him up and Fable doesn’t have to show up alone to the wedding where her cheating ex is a groomsmen. Wilder and Fable had it all planned out and everyone would be none the wiser but with the more time they spent together things changed and that end date they proposed looms with dread.

I loved the way Wilder spoils those he cares for and Fable was included on that short list from the very beginning. They shared with each other things they keep hidden from others because it felt right between them even when they kept saying it was just fake. Fable saw Wilder, truly saw him and understood what makes him tick and was able to support in meaningful ways. These two were excellent sparring partners and shared the same kind of Christmas love.


Thank you @laurenblakelyauthor @atriabooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

Imagine you make a plan to make your cheating ex jealous and fall for your boss instead. That is what happens in Lauren Blakely’s new stand-alone holiday romance, My Favorite Holidate. This is a spicy, small town, billionaire single dad, fake dating, office romance about Fable and Wilder. They both needed a date to the wedding of Fable’s sister and Wilder’s best friend, for which they were Maid of Honor and Best Man. To fool her ex and his matchmaking aunt, they agreed to fake date, but, after a short time, it all felt so very real. I loved this book! As usual for this author, she created a book with plenty of laughs and some genuine, heartfelt emotion. I really liked Fable and Wilder and disliked Fable’s ex. He had everything that happened to him coming. I really enjoy stories with fake dating, and wonder how often it happens in the real world. Also as usual for this author, there was plenty of spice and incredible chemistry. I also thought that Wilder’s twelve year old daughter stole the show. If you enjoy a good holiday fake dating romantic comedy, then you should make sure you listen to this audiobook this holiday season.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Atria Books, and Lauren Blakely for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.